Jordan McIvor-Clark’s last month of football has been as good as any young gun in the competition. This week, he get rewarded with the round 14 Rising Star nomination.
McIvor-Clark’s outside run was a key component in Wilston Grange’s win over Broadbeach on Saturday.
“I thought that I probably didn’t start as well as I had been doing in the last month or so, but I worked my well into in the second half,” McIvor-Clark said.
It was a shootout early, but Wilston Grange were able to slow it down in the second half, and get the Cats with their rebound, slingshot running.
“It was very weird coming off such a good first quarter to be in that position at half time. It wasn’t what we expected so we had to lock down a bit until we got control again and see what we could do from there,” he said.
McIvor-Clark put his good form of late down to getting his head around his role on the wing in 2015.
“I think this is my first time playing on the wing in my life. Getting used to the positioning and the running patterns has started to come in effect now,” he said.
“Just knowing when to go at the contest or when to hold out. Being more confident to take the game on, and to run and break lines.
“It’s been the confidence factor that has come off it, and not being afraid to take a few bounces or step someone rather than just panicking and kicking it. I think I’ve become more composed.”
Having the belief in one of the biggest midfields in the competition has also helped him play his role.
“If there is a one on one contest or you’ve got Kettle, Proud, Brittain or someone like that, I know that they are probably going to win the ball, so I can stay out and don’t have to go in at the contest, and open it up that way,” McIvor-Clark said.
With finals looming, he wants to continue the consistency, and the impact he has had of late, ready to play his part in a tilt at the flag in September; something the whole club now believes can happen.
“It’s been hard, last year I found a bit of a groove, but lost that at the start of this year. I’m sort of getting it back now so I just want to keep this consistency going,” McIvor-Clark said.
“For the team, we just want to keep winning games and play finals football. It’s been really good this year. I didn’t expect to be doing this well. The whole club has got the belief that we are a contender in the competition.”
Wilston Grange takes on UQ at home this Saturday at 2pm.
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
